Doing your bit for the disabled

By Justin Robertson
THE Every Australian Counts campaign headed to Pakenham last week in a bid to gather more supporters for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
More than 40 members from Outlook Pakenham, who were at the two-hour presentation held at the Cardinia Cultural Centre, were briefed on the current status of the campaign.
They were given an idea of what it all means for people with a disability.
Outlook community service manager, Julie Walton, said all states have different systems for funding and the NDIS is looking to the Federal Government to fully fund it.
“It will include anybody with a disability. It will cut out a lot of the red tape and everyone will be supported and funded and have their needs met through it. At the moment, the current system is very restrictive,” she said.
“It’s absolutely vital. Young people with disabilities are living in nursing homes; there are also waiting lists and families with no accommodation – it’s agreed they need support, but there is no funding there.”
The campaign is set to submit a report through the productivity commission next month, with the hope that parliament will vote on it by Christmas.
“We have 39,000 people signed up for this, and in favour of it, but it’s probably not enough to make the government listen and consider this proposal.
“We need support from everybody within the community – otherwise it’ll be just another productivity report,” Ms Walton said.